Dispensing assembly



June 1, 1965 Filed June 1 1962 G. L. BEALL ETAL DISPENSING ASSEMBLY 3Sheets-Sheet l June 1, 1965 G. BEALL ETAL 3,186,450

DISPENS ING ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1962 J1me 1965 G. L.BEALL ETAL 3,186,450

DISPENSING ASSEMBLY Filed June 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United StatesPatent 3,186,450 DISPENSING ASSEMBLY Glenn L. Beall, Wildwood, and HenryM. Scislowicz, Lake Bluli, Ill., assignors to Abbott Laboratories, NorthChicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 1, 1962, Ser. No.199,539 2 Claims. (Cl. 141-319) This invention relates to a dispensingassembly and in particular the invention relates to a dispensingassembly which is particularly adapted to serve as a pump. It isrecognized in the prior art that it is sometimes necessary to store asubstance such as a powdered medicament or the like in the dry stateuntil it is ready to be used. At that time it is necessary to bring themedicament into contact with a liquid, for example a solution, forpurposes of parenteral administration. The primary purpose of storing amedicament or the like in the dry state is to preserve its medicinalcharacteristics.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a dispensing assemblywhich includes a flexible diaphragm to which there is connected adispensing cannula. A closure is unseatable and displaceable into thecontainer, in response to the sufficient flexure of the flexiblediaphragm, when the proximal terminal end of the dispensing cannula isforced or pushed against the closure, or alternatively, when theflexible diaphragm is forced or pushed againstthe closure. Thedispensing assembly is adapted to be suitably connected to a dispensingcontainer. When it is desired to mix the dry medicament with the liquidin a solution container, the dispensing cannula is brought intocommunication with the inside of the solution container. When a force isexerted on the dispensing container by the user, the flexure of theflexible diaphragm causes the inward displacement of the closure intothe container so that liquid communication is thereby estab-- lishedbetween the dispensing container and the solution container. When theclosure is displaced into the dispensing container and upon flexure ofthe diaphragm, it is readily apparent that the powder is pumped into thesolution container from the dispensing container during each forwardmovement of the dispensing container toward the solution container andthat solution is sucked from the solution container into the dispensingcontainer upon each backward movement of the dispensing container awayfrom the solution container; therefore, once the closure has beenreleased from its eating engagement, there is a free interchange of themedicament in the dispensing container and the liquid in the solutioncontainer. Gnce the closure has been displaced into the dispensingcontainer, the closure also serve as an agitator to facilitate mixing ofthe dry medicament and the liquid.

It is one of the purposes of the invention to provide a closure assemblyby which a medicament in a dispensing container is closed oil fromcommunication with the out side by a closure and in which the closure ispermanently displaced from its position of closure into the inside ofthe dispensing container. Thereafter the dispensing assembly of theinvention serves as a pump to facilitate intermix= ing of the medicamentin the dispensing container and the liquid in the solution container.

It is also one of the features of the invention to provide a reducedportion in the flexible closure to facilitate In the diagrammaticdrawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the manner in which thedispensing assembly of the invention is adapted to be used;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, partly cutaway,

of one embodiment of the dispensing assembly of the invention;

"ice

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4- of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing an alternate form of closure;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plain view of another alternative form of closure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the closure illustratedin FIGURE 6 of the illustrative drawings;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the manner inwhich the closure is released from its seating position;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation view, mainly in crosssection, showinganother manner in which the closure is adapted to be seated against theflexible diaphragm and showing an alternate mounting for the dispensingcannula;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view, mainly in crosssection, showing themanner in which the closure serves as an agitator subsequent to itrelease;

FIGURE 11 illustrates one type of contain-er with which in a modifiedform of the dispensing assembly is adapted to be used; and

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation view, partly broken away, of a modifiedform of dispensing assembly which is adapted to be used with, forexample, the container shown in FIGURE 11 of the illustrative drawings.

Like reference characters are employed to designate components havingthe same construction, function and relative location. 7

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 4 of the illustrative drawings, thereis illustrated the manner in which a liquid, such as a parenteralsolution, in a solution container 2% is adapted to be mixed with a drymedicament M in a dispensing container 21. The dispensing container 21is shown to be provided with a dispensing assembly generally indicatedat 22. The dispensing container 21 is shown to be provided with acontainer body 23 and a tubular neck 23a joined by an inclined portion23b. The tubular neck 23a is shown to have an annular head 24 as seenfor example in FIGURE 3 of the illustrative drawings. A terminal end 25of the tubular neck 23a of the container 21 defines an opening 26through which the medicament M is filled into the container 21.

The dispensing assembly 22 is shown to comprise a flexible dome-shapeddiaphragm 27 from which there depends an annular flange portion 28. Theannular flange portion 28 is shown to have an internal bead 29 which isadapted to engage an annular shoulder 30 defined by the bead 24. Theflexible diaphragm 27 is provided with a socket portion 31 which extendsaxially therefrom. The internal intersection of the diaphragm 27 and thesocket portion 31 defines an aperture 32 in the flexible diaphragm 27.The diaphragm 27 defines a converging inner surface 27s which convergestoward the aperture 32 to prevent the closure disk 46 from unseating. Anannular external bead 33 reinforces the flexible diaphragm 27 and thesocket portion 31 externally at their place of intersection. Adispensing cannula 34 is shown to be provided at its distal marginal end35 with a sharpened outward end 36, while the proximal marginal end 37of the dispensing cannula 34 is shown to be provided with an externalannular flange 38. The proximal marginal end 37 of the dispensingcannula 34- is shown to be provided with an axially extending transverseslot 39. The slot 39 enables the proximal marginal end 37 of thedispensing cannula 34 to flex sufliciently to enable the externalannular flange 38 to be inserted through a terminal end 40 of the socketportion 31 to the position shown for example in FIGURE 3 of theillustrative drawings. The

a socket portion 31, being resilient, also flexes as the annular flange38 passes therethrough. The annular flange 38 is inclined inwardly toaid in the insertion of the dispensing cannula through the socket 31.The dispensing cannula 34 is provided with a flange 42 which serves thedual function of limiting the inward movement of the dispensing cannula34 with respect to the socket portion 31 and of providing a convenientfinger stop to enable the user to insert a free length portion 43 of thedispensing cannula 34 into a pierceable stopper 44 of the container 20.

As one of the salient features of the invention, there is provided aclosure generally indicated at 45 which is shown to take the form of aclosure disk 46. The closure disk 46 is shown to be seated both againstthe terminal end 25 of the container 21 and against a lower peripheralportion 27' of the flexible diaphragm 27. It is readily apparent thatthe closure disk 46 remains releasably seated until the user is ready totransfer the dry medicament M into the container 20. The userestablishes communication between the'container 21 and the container 25by means of the free length portion 43 of the dispensing cannula 34. Theuser grasps the container 21 and the container 20 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 1 of the illustrative drawings and begins to movethe container 21 repeatedly toward and away from the container 20, orvice versa by short pumping strokes. Upon the first inward movement ofthe dispensing cannula 34 the flexible diaphragm 27 temporarily flexessufficiently in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the illustrativedrawings to enable a proximal terminal end 37 of the dispensing cannula34 to unseat the releasably seated closure 45 from between the terminalend 25 of the container 21 and the flexible diaphragm 27. The closure 45is displaced into the container 21 and the operator continues the inwardand outward pumping movement of the container 21 so that the drymedicament M is pumped from the container 21 on the inward movement andliquid in the container 20 is sucked into the container 21 during thebackward movement, The closure 45 helps to retain the dry medicament Mdry and sterile, but the closure 45 is also useful to prevent the drymedicament M from falling out through a passage 47 of the dispensingcannula 34 after asheath 48 is removed and as the free length portion 43is being inserted into the pierceable stopper 44 of the container 20.

In order to facilitate in the release of the closure disk 46 upon theflexure of the flexible diaphragm 27, the closure 46 is preferablyprovided with a reduced portion 49 which is shown to take the form of acutout 49' taken along a cord of the circular periphery 50 of theclosure disk 46. Although the closure disk 46 is shown to be providedwith a reduced portion 49, other constructions for facilitating theflexure of the disk 46 are within the purview of the invention; forexample in FIGURE of the illustrative drawings, a reduced portion 51 isshown to take the form of two radial cutouts 52 and 53. As shown inFIGURE 6 and FIGURE 7 of the illustrative drawings, a reduced portion 54is shown to take the form of radial weakening as indicated by scorelines 55, 56 and 57. The provision of a reduced portion is preferablyemployed in the event that the closure disk 46 is to be composed of aflexible plastic such as polyethylene or vinyl. In this event theclosure disk 46 is about 0.030 of an inch thick. The reduced portion 49,51 and 54 extend short of the opening 26 so that the entire opening 26is closed off by the closure 45. The reduced portions 49 and 51 aredisposed transversely beyond the opening 26. Each reduced portion 49, 51and 54 is preferably eccentrically disposed in relation to the center ofthe closure disk 46 as shown in the drawings. The closure 45 is,however, preferably of lesser extent than the inside diameter of thecontainer body 23.

Referring now to FIGURE 9 of the illustrative drawings there isillustrated a modified form of dispensing assembly generally indicatedat 22A. The dispensing assembly 22A is shown to have a dispensingcannula 34a a proximal marginal end 37a of which is disposed slightlyabove an aperture 32a in a flexible dome-shaped diaphragm 27a. Theproximal marginal end 37a of the dispensing cannula 34a is shown to beprovided with a barbed-shape flange 33a which fits into a correspondingannular recess 58 in a socket portion 31a. A peripheral side 59 of theflexible diaphragm 27a is shown to be stepped outwardly to form anannular shoulder 60 against which the closure disk 46 is seated. Theclosure disk 46 is also seated against the terminal end 25 of thecontainer 21. In this embodiment of the invention it is the flexibledome-shaped diaphragm 27a which serves to unseat the closure disk 46 asindicated in phantom in FIGURE 9 of the illustrative drawings.

In FIGURE 10 of the illustrative drawings the closure 45 is composed ofa flexible deformable metal. The metal closure disk 46 is displaced intothe container 25 after it has been permanently deformed upon pushing thedispensing cannula 34 thereagainst. The deformed disk 46 serves toagitate the liquid L and the dry medicament M during the pumping of thedispensing assembly 22.

As shown in FIGURE 11 of the illustrative drawings, the container 21contains the dry medicament M, which is purchased by the user with atamper-proof closure in place. The closure 65 has a tear strip '66 towhich there is secured a tab 67. When the tear strip 66 is removed, anannular collar 68 remains locked below the bead 24 on the container 21.The construction of a dispensing assembly 22B is substantially like thatindicated at 22 of the illustrative drawings, however, the dispensingassembly 2213 is provided with a sleeve-like flange portion 28b. Theflange portion 28b has a first internal shoulder 69 which abuts againstthe annular collor 68 and a second shoulder 74) which abuts against theinclined portion 23b of the container 21. Extending downwardly of thesecond shoulder portion 70 is a sleeve portion '72 which has a slightdownward and outward taper to enable the flange portion 28b to be snuglyreceived by the container body 23 of the container 21. The flangeportion 28b enables the dispensing assembly 22B to be employed onvarious types of containers, for example those not having an annularcollar 68.

In each of the embodiments of the invention, the dispensing assemblyexclusive of the dispensing cannula is preferably composed of flexiblematerial such as plastic, for example polyethylene or vinyl. A plasticwhich is able to be flexed the required number of times suitable toaccomplish the stated purposes of the invention is to be employed. It isto be understood that a material such as rubber is employable for thispurpose, if desired. The dispensing cannula 34 is preferably composed ofa somewhat more rigid material such as plastic, for example propylene ornylon. The closure disk 46 is preferably composed of a plastic such aspolyethylene or vinyl and the like which is compatible with Whateversubstance is to be present in the container 2].. The, closure disk 46 isof a character to be composed of a thin stainless steel or a coated oruncoated aluminum depending upon the nature of the medicament M. Thecontainer 21 is preferably composed of a rigid material such as glassalthough it is comprehended that a plastic having Sllfl'lClfilltrigidity for the purpose such as methyl methacrylate or a high densitypolyethylene is also employable.

It is to be understood that although the distal marginal end 35 of thedispensing cannula 34 is shown to have a sharpened outward end, it iswithin the purview of the invention to provide a suitable connection atthe distal marginal end 35 of the dispensing cannula 34 so that liquidcommunication can be established through a suitable threaded rigidadapter cap in the event that a rubber stopper is not to be employed. i

The invention is not dependent upon the presence of any particular typeof substance in the dispensing container or any particular type ofliquid in the solution container. For example, the solution containercan contain water, if desired.

The above-described embodiments being exemplary only, it will beunderstood that modifications in form or detail can be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be considered as limited save as is consonant withthe scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing container comprising: a container having an opening atits terminal end, a flexible dome-shaped diaphragm having an aperturetherein, said flexible domeshaped diaphragm defining a converging innersurface which converges toward said aperture, a flange portion dependingfrom said diaphragm and externally engaging said terminal end of saidcontainer, a dispensing cannula connected to said diaphragm andextending outwardly beyond and inwardly beyond said aperture in saiddome-shaped diaphragm, a flexible closure disc releasably seated betweensaid terminal end of said container and a lower peripheral portion ofsaid dome-shaped diaphragm, said converging inner surface of saiddomeshaped diaphragm preventing said closure disc from unseating againstsaid terminal end of said container, said closure disc having aneccentrically disposed cut-out portion located at the periphery thereof,said flexible closure disc being releasable and displaceable into saidcontainer in response to the inward flexure of said diaphragm and thepushing of the inwardly extending end of said dispensing cannula againstsaid flexible closure disc.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible closure discis constituted of a deformable metal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,601 9/15Carpenter 222--209 X 1,308,919 7/19 Sellar 128-215 2,650,740 9/53Hammerstein 222490 X 2,665,037 1/54 Zublin 222490 3,057,520 10/62 Nufier222209 3,066,833 12/62 Hershenson 222209 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER COMPRISING: A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING ATITS TERMINAL END, A FLEXIBLE DOME-SHAPED DIAPHRAGM HAVING AN APERTURETHEREIN, SAID FLEXIBLE DOMESHAPED DIAPHRAGM DEFINING A CONVERGING INNERSURFACE WHICH CONVERGES TOWARD SAID APERTURE, A FLANGE PORTION DEPENDINGFROM SAID DIAPHRAGM AND EXTERNALLY ENGAGING SAID TERMINAL END OF SAIDCONTAINER, A DISPENSING CANNULA CONNECTED TO SAID DIAPHRAGM ANDEXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND AND INWARDLY BEYOND SAID APERTURE IN SAIDDOME-SHAPED DIAPHRAGM, A FLEXIBLE CLOSURE DISC RELEASABLY SEATED BETWEENSAID TERMINAL END OF SAID CONTAINER AND A LOWER PERIPHERAL PORTION OFSAID DOME-SHAPED DIAPHRAGM, SAID CONVERGING INNER SURFACE OF SAIDDOMESHAPED DIAPHRAGM PREVENTING SAID CLOSURE DISC FROM UNSEATING AGAINSTSAID TERMINAL END OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE DISC HAVING ANECCENTRICALLY DISPOSED CUT-OUT PORTION LOCATED AT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF,SAID FLEXIBLE CLOSURE DISC BEING RELEASABLE AND DISPLACEABLE INTO SAIDCONTAINER IN RESPONSE TO THE INWARD FLEXURE OF SAID DIAPHRAGM AND THEPUSHING OF THE INWARDLY EXTENDING END OF SAID DISPENSING CANNULA AGAINSTSAID FLEXIBLE CLOSURE DISC.